Committee on the Environment

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Regional and Urban Design Committee and Committee on the Environment .
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In 2007, Congress took an important step for sustainability by passing legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions in federal facilities. Today, this provision (Sec. 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act) is helping government agencies work with architects, engineers, contractors, building operators and others to reduce the energy footprint of the federal government.

But efforts in Congress might put that to an end. Proposed Senate legislation would gut, or even eliminate, this important measure. The result would be a significant retreat in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stifling innovation and wasting more taxpayer dollars on energy costs.

The AIA is leading the effort to block these moves and show Congress there is widespread support for sustainability. Please consider adding your organization or company to the letter , which tells Senators to keep moving forward on sustainable federal buildings.

You can see the letter here: http://www.aia.org/advocacy/federal/AIAB098158

This letter is meant to be signed by companies/organizations rather than individuals.

If you have questions, please contact the AIA government relations team at govaffs@aia.org.

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Andrew Goldberg Assoc. AIA
Managing Director, Government Relations and Outreach
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Andrew,

Can you give some specifics about the legislation being proposed? It is not really explained in the letter to Senators Wyden & Murkowski.

Thank you,
Pat LaCorte 

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Patrick LaCorte AIA
Architect
Peter Raymond Wells Architect LLC
Park Ridge NJ
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Pat,

Thank you for your email.   At this point in time, we do not know any specifics of the proposal being devleoped by opponents of the provision. Last year, a Senator devleoped draft legislation that was never introduced; the proposal would have changed the provision to make meeting the targets optional for federal agencies as opposed to mandatory.  We believe that the current proposal will either mirror last year's, or perhaps go further and repeal from law the provision outright.  Either way this would be a major setback to the government's ability to design sustainable buildings, which is why we believe it is important to let Congress know now that there is broad support for the provision.


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Andrew Goldberg Assoc. AIA
Managing Director, Government Relations and Outreach
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-27-2013 18:02
From: Patrick LaCorte
Subject: Don't Let Congress Turn Its Back on Sustainability

Andrew,

Can you give some specifics about the legislation being proposed? It is not really explained in the letter to Senators Wyden & Murkowski.

Thank you,
Pat LaCorte 

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Patrick LaCorte AIA
Architect
Peter Raymond Wells Architect LLC
Park Ridge NJ
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Does anyone else see the irony in AIA Nationals elimination of the requirements for Sustainable Design Continuing Education Courses while we demand that Congress maintain its commitment to the design of sustainable buildings? This sort of inconsistency is constantly used against us.   

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Bruce McEvoy AIA
Associate Principal
Perkins+Will
Atlanta GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-29-2013 11:36
From: Andrew Goldberg
Subject: Don't Let Congress Turn Its Back on Sustainability

Pat,

Thank you for your email.   At this point in time, we do not know any specifics of the proposal being devleoped by opponents of the provision. Last year, a Senator devleoped draft legislation that was never introduced; the proposal would have changed the provision to make meeting the targets optional for federal agencies as opposed to mandatory.  We believe that the current proposal will either mirror last year's, or perhaps go further and repeal from law the provision outright.  Either way this would be a major setback to the government's ability to design sustainable buildings, which is why we believe it is important to let Congress know now that there is broad support for the provision.


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Andrew Goldberg Assoc. AIA
Managing Director, Government Relations and Outreach
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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